APPENDIX A^^) SOME OBSERVATIONS ON EARLY IRISH BARONIES It was the Editor's original intention to give here a list of the Irish peerage before the 1 6th century, but he has deemed it advisable to postpone it to vol xi. This Appendix is therefore confined to some observations on the early Irish Baronies, (which may, and probably will, require to be supplemented when the work has proceeded further) and to transcripts of the Rankings of the Peers at various dates. Fabulously early dates are often assigned to the early Irish Baronies. This apparently arises from the date of origin of the feudal barony being regarded as if it were that of the peerage. All peerages in Ireland, except three Baronies, cr. by James II in 1689 C") and those of which the origin is unknown, but which have become such by prescription, were created by charter or patent, the unreasonable theory of hereditary dignities being created by writ of summons to Parl- iament (as now held in England) being unknown there either before or after 1689. (°) Charters or patents of creation of Irish peerages before 1500 are, however, rare, there being, apparently, but eleven such doc- uments known. Of these eleven, seven are Earldoms, Ulster Carrick Kildare Louth Ormond Desmond Waterford (*) The references to this Appendix in the following notes should be concelled as the matter referred to is dealt with in vol. xi, Appendix A. Notes "a" p. 24 ; "b" p. 290 ; "b" p. 291 ; "b" p. 292 ; "c" p. 292. C") These were Fitton of Gosworth, Nugent of Riverston, and Bourkc of Bophin, all cr. when James II had been expelled from England but was still enjoying his Royal rights in Ireland. if) The decision of 19 Dec. 1767 whereby the Irish "Barony of La Poer " was allowed to the Dowager Countess of Tyrone [I.] "in fee by descent from her grand- father Richard, who sat and voted in Parliament as Baron La Poer till 28 Car. II " was clearly anomalous. See Preface to ist edition, as reprinted in this volume, ante, " a. " 59
